Fedor books Strikeforce return for June 26

SAN JOSE, Calif. 
Fedor Emelianenko will return to Strikeforce for a heavyweight bout against Fabricio Werdum on June 26 in San Jose.

Strikeforce announced the deal Tuesday to end an eight-month absence from competition for one of the world's elite mixed martial artists.

Emelianenko hasn't fought since stopping Brett Rogers last November in his Strikeforce debut. The Bay Area-based promotion competes with the UFC, which won't accept Emelianenko's demands to co-promote his own fights.

Lengthy negotiations between Strikeforce and M-1 Global, Emelianenko's promotions company, prevented the fighter from appearing on Strikeforce's disappointing show on CBS last month.

The Russian star's bout against Werdum will be telecast on Showtime from HP Pavilion.